5 dní
Chiang Mai itinerary
What you'll do
*READ FOR CONTEXT* Chiang Mai is one of our favourite places in Thailand and amazing for just how much there is to do! This is an example itinerary that you could stretch anywhere from 3 to 6 days (with a few add-on's, see below) depending on how much time you have.
BREAKDOWN:
DAY 1 is all about settling in and landing in Chiang Mai. Get to know the city, maybe visit a few temples. I have put a few options under the description for Wat Rajamontean so choose the ones you like the look of the most.
❗️You can only visit the Coconut Market if you're in Chiang Mai on a weekend, but if you are - I highly recommend it! Otherwise just keep exploring the city.
Around 4 pm you're going to make your way to Chiang Mai Chaloem Phrakiat Park which is a beautiful and peaceful park with lots of flowers. If you're in Chiang Mai between November - January there is an annual flower festival in this park! Go around 4 pm to see the park in golden light and then have dinner in one of the food stalls and wait for the dark. After 6 pm the evening lights and show will start that should not be missed!
However, if you visit Chiang Mai outside of the flower festival it is still a wonderful park to visit but perhaps not a "must", so you can do something else instead. Perhaps make your way to Mon Jam flower farm instead if you have time which is an hour outside of Chiang Mai but a beautiful mountain flower farm! Just check on Google Maps under recent photos that they actually have some flowers when you plan to visit because sometimes they don't.
DAY 2: Take a daytrip to 2 of the top attractions 1 hour outside of Chiang Mai - Dantewada and Sticky Waterfall. You can rent a scooter and drive yourself or join a tour. There's plenty that combine the two. For sunset when you're back in Chiang Mai visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep for one of the best sunset spots in the city.
DAY 3: We're leaving the city to visit Doi Inthanon National Park 1.5 hours away from Chiang Mai. You can visit as a daytrip or stay overnight in the park. A daytrip is *doable* but if you want to see everything you will need to leave Chiang Mai super early. We stayed overnight in the park instead and would recommend it for a more relaxed visit. On your first day leave early and make it to the park. You will need to drive here yourself or take a tour. There is no public transport. Visit Wachirathan Waterfall and head out on a hike - either Pha Dok Siew Hike AND/OR Kew Mae Pan Trail (2 hours each). You could do Pha Dok Siew Hike during the day and Kew Mae Pan Trail for sunset to see the sun set from above the clouds!
The next day visit the King and Queen Pagodas for sunrise for the most quiet and magical experience. Then visit Doi Inthanon to stand on the highest spot in Thailand. If you didn't do any of the hikes the day before you can do them now too, if you have the time. Then it is time to leave the national park. On your way back to Chiang Mai - visit the second tallest waterfall in Thailand - Mae Ya Waterfall and Pha Chor Canyon.
DAY 5: Today is either departure day or if you have extra days in Chiang Mai here are some fun things you can do:
🏖️🎢Grand Canyon waterpark
🛖Mae Kampong Village
🐘 Elephant sanctuary (true one - ex. @changchill_th or @beeselephants)
💦 Mok Fa waterfall
🌼 Mon Jam Flower Farm + the nearby Jungle Coaster
Day 1
DAY 1 is all about settling in and landing in Chiang Mai. Get to know the city, maybe visit a few temples. I have put a few options under the description for Wat Rajamontean so choose the ones you like the look of the most! :)
Depending on the time and day you want to make your way to the Coconut Market which is a fun and special market open every Saturday and Sunday morning until around 2 pm.
❗️You can only visit the Coconut Market if you're in Chiang Mai on a weekend, but if you are - I highly recommend it! Otherwise just keep exploring the city.
Around 4 pm you're going to make your way to Chiang Mai Chaloem Phrakiat Park which is a beautiful and peaceful park with lots of flowers. If you're in Chiang Mai between November - January there is an annual flower festival in this park! Go around 4 pm to see the park in golden light and then have dinner in one of the food stalls and wait for the dark. After 6 pm the evening lights and show will start that should not be missed!
However, if you visit Chiang Mai outside of the flower festival it is still a wonderful park to visit but perhaps not a "must", so you can do something else instead. Perhaps make your way to Mon Jam flower farm instead if you have time which is an hour outside of Chiang Mai but a beautiful mountain flower farm! Just check on Google Maps under recent photos that they actually have nice flowers when you plan to visit because sometimes they don't.
kultura
Wat Rajamontean
Decorative roadside temple in Chiang Mai
While Chiang Rai is definitely the temple city of the north, Chiang Mai has some lovely temples to visit too. This is Wat Rajamontean, a small but decorative temple on the edge of the Old town of Chiang Mai. It's free to visit. If you're into photography you can get a really cool photo angle from the stairs leading up to the temple!
If you have time and are interested, here are some other temples you can check out in Chiang Mai:
🛕Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan
🛕Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
🛕Wat Sri Suphan
🛕Wat Chedi Luang
🛕Wat Saen Muang Ma Luang
🛕Wat Lok Moli (the Viharn)
🛕Wat Phra That Doi Kham
🛕Wat Pha Lat
🛕Royal Park Rajapruek
Fotospot
Coconut Market
Charming weekend market in Chiang Mai
Coconut Market is a lovely farmers' market in Chiang Mai that pops up only on the weekend mornings until 2 pm, offering a mix of local food stalls, craft vendors, and fresh produce from nearby farms. It's unique for being situated right in a coconut farm, so not only can you shop at the food stalls, you can also walk around the picturesque coconut trees and find a beautiful place to sit. If you're in Chiang Mai on a Saturday or Sunday this market is not to be missed!
park
Chiang Mai Chaloem Phrakiat Park
The most beautiful park in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai's Chaloem Phrakiat Park is an incredible hidden gem for nature lovers. It's a vast and gorgeous park with beautiful views, but not only that. Every year from November to January there is a flower festival where the whole park transforms into a colourful flower paradise that is absolutely stunning during the day and lit up incredibly at night with hourly light shows and firework.
HOW TO VISIT:
🛵: Navigate to 📍Chiang Mai Chaloem Phrakiat Park. Easiest is with your own scooter, otherwise there might be public transport or you could simply take a Grab or a songthaew.
Free parking
The park is open from 8 am - 23 pm everyday.
🌼 Go EARLY if you want it for yourself. Go around 4 pm (like we did) to see the park lit up by the golden sun before it disappears behind the mountains. It was more busy at this time but the sunlight made it so beautiful!
Go FROM 6 PM FORWARDS for the evening shows and lights.
Example time plan:
Go at 4 pm, see the beautiful flowers bathed in golden light. Then grab dinner from one of the food stalls and sit down to eat and wait until 6 pm when the evening shows and lights start. Great way see the park in its full glory because you don't want to miss neither day time nor night time here!
We also saw almost exclusively locals at this event, so I don’t think it’s very internationally known but it is so so so worth it. 🥹
There are lots of food stalls right outside the park (you have to consume any food or drinks outside, you can't take them into the park).
If you visit outside of November-January the park probably won't be as pretty or active, but there should still be some flowers around and either way it's a beautiful park perfect for a peaceful stroll or a picnic!